Political crisis within the PNL. The National Council of the party meets on Friday, June 19, to decide on the convening of an extraordinary Congress, following the appointment of Adrian Veștea as Prime Minister and the internal tensions regarding the leadership of the party. The Liberals are also preparing changes to the statute, including the reduction of the positions of first vice-president.
The National Council is due to meet on Friday afternoon, starting at 17:00, in an extraordinary meeting held online, attended by approximately 800 delegates. The main point on the agenda is the convening of the extraordinary Congress of the PNL, scheduled for Sunday, at 12:00, at Romexpo, where around 2,500 delegates from the whole country are expected – 500 by law and 2,000 designated by the territorial organizations.
In addition to convening the Congress, the Liberals will also discuss possible changes to the party’s statutes. One of the changes envisaged is to reduce the number of first vice-president positions from four to one. Currently, these positions are occupied by Adrian Veștea, Nicoleta Pauliuc, Ciprian Ciucu and Cătălin Predoiu, the latter recently resigning.
The decision to convene the National Council was taken within the National Political Bureau, urgently convened following Adrian Veștea’s refusal to submit his mandate as designated prime minister, despite the requests of the party leadership.
The past few days, the PNL leadership reconfirmed, through an internal vote, that the formation does not support participating in a government alongside the PSD, nor does it support an executive led by Adrian Veștea. The proposal not to enter the government with the PSD was adopted with 39 votes for, 10 against and 4 abstentions. Furthermore, it was decided that PNL MPs who would support such a government may lose their party membership.
“The appointment of Adrian Veștea for the formation of a government was made without the approval of the statutory forums of the PNL, in violation of the party’s Statute. The PNL believes that the governing formula proposed by Adrian Veștea leads, in fact, to the formation of a government led and supported by the PSD, contrary to the decisions adopted by the National Political Bureau”, it is stated in the press release of the formation.
At the same time, PNL reported that Adrian Veștea is outside the party, arguing that he did not respect his mandate established by the internal forums and that his appointment for the formation of the government was made without respecting the statute of the formation.
At the same time, several liberal parliamentarians, considered close to Vestea or critical of the leadership, contested the decisions of the National Political Bureau in court.
The Ilfov court won their case on Thursday, suspending the application of the sanctions, but the PNL announced that it would challenge the decision within the legal term and that it would continue its political activity based on its own internal decisions.
The news wants the leadership of the PNL
In parallel, an internal competition for leadership is taking shape in the party. Adrian Veștea announced his intention to run for Congress for the position of PNL president. The designated prime minister also requests the postponement of the formation’s congress by one week, on June 28.
“I believe that a deep change of perspective is needed at the top of the party. Therefore, with seriousness and balance, I officially announce my intention to run for the position of president of the National Liberal Party”, said Adrian Vestea.
On Wednesday, interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced the convening of an Extraordinary Congress of the PNL on June 21, a decision he considers necessary for the stability of the party.
“National Liberal Party it needs clarity, decisions made, and direction confirmed unequivocally. That is why I proposed today the organization of the PNL Extraordinary Congress on June 21. We didn’t want it, but the situation requires it”, wrote Ilie Bolojan, on Wednesday evening, in a post on Facebook.
